Power Hour: Crop Tour Pegs the Impact of Historic Drought

Watch the U.S. Farm Report roundtable for fresh-from-the-field expert analysis.

Crop Tour field scouts gathered more than 2,300 corn and soybean samples across seven Midwest states August 20-23, during the 2012 Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour. The area surveyed accounts for about 70% of U.S. corn and soybean production.

As expected, measurements of the samples showed dramatic declines in yield potential for both corn and soybeans across the drought stricken region.

"We saw drought stress from the east coast to the west coast of the Corn Belt this week," says Chip Flory, editor of the Pro Farmer newsletter. "Unfortunately, yield declines of 20% or more will be common for many growers this year."

Based on Midwest Crop Tour data and other sources, Pro Farmer estimates that overall production will decline by about 15% for both corn and soybeans for 2012 compared to 2011. The 2012 U.S. corn crop is estimated to be 10.478 billion bushels, yielding 120.25 bushels per acre. For soybeans, the production estimate is 2.6 billion bushels (34.8 bushels per acre).

The final evening report and meeting, at Ritchie Brothers Auction Theatre near Owatonna, Minn., attracted more than 600 attendees.

Watch the U.S. Farm Report roundtable from the event:

Tough Growing Conditions

"Our scouts were in many corn fields that were heavily stressed by this summer’s drought and heat," Flory explained. "The weather stress and other disease and pest problems have weakened stalk strength. Farmers must figure out which fields they need to harvest first before stalk lodging results in even more lost yield."

He added, "The soybean crop needs a rain right now. Without that much-needed water, yield potential will be even lower than we estimated."